A study published in the journal Child Development evaluated 170 families, in which there was at least one child with an average age of three years. This is the precise stage, at which our emotional, linguistic, social, and behavioral capabilities are developing.
Researchers asked parents to take note of the number of times per day they had to interrupt time spent with their children in order to use a mobile device.
11% said it never happened, 17% said it occurred just once per day, 24% confessed that it happened twice per day, and 48% revealed that they interrupted time with their children three or more times per day.
Among the most revealing conclusions is the fact that, the more distractions and interruptions occurred, the more children demonstrated behavioral problems, such as tantrums, violent reactions, and anger.
In addition, other studies undertaken by AVG Technologies concluded that 42% of children (4 out of every 10) think their parents spend more time on their phone than with them. On the other hand, kids end up normalizing these behaviors and repeating them to the point of becoming addicted to their cell phones, just like their parents.
What about you? Do you pay enough attention to your kids or are you more focused on what your cell phone is doing?
